Can handling apparatus



May 20, 1941. F. c.`MARx VCAN HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 11, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. BYTed'erfio (l. Marx. Mf/a `IMay 20, 1941. F C, MARX 2,242,531

l y CAN HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 11, 19:58 3 sheets-sheet 2 Irm v May 20, 1941. F, c; MARX 2,242,531

CAN HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 11, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS.

n'Patented May 20, 194i CAN nANpuNG APPARATUS Frederick C. Marx, Cincinnati, Ohio, assigner to The Heekin Can Company, Norwood, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application August 11, 1938, Serial No. 224,315

(Cl. l98-30) 3Clalms.

This invention relates to mechanism for handling a plurality of objects of generally similar shape and for transferring and arranging such articles in deiinltf` formation, after the articles have been delivered or deposited upon the mechanism unarranged.

An object of the invention is to provide means of the character described particularly adapted for use in arranging a plurality of cans into single lin'.. upright formation.

Another object is to provide sucha mechanism in which the cans or articles to be arranged may be delivered to the mechanism in an entirely unarranged condition, and regardless of whether the articles are standing upright or lying on their sides when so deposited or delivered.

Another object is to provide a mechanism having means for arranging a plurality of moving objects intosingle line formation, means being provided for precluding jamming r improper concentration of the articles during the operation of forming a single line of the objects.

Another object is to provide, in connection with mechanism'of the character indicated, a novel means and method of converting cans or similar objects from a horizontal to an upright position during the process of carrying the objects forward.

Another object is to effect the operations and functions above mentioned by mechanism of relatively simple construction and adapted for considerable modification so that objects or articles of diierent sizes may be handled by a single unit. A

'I'hese and other objects are attained by the I means described herein and illustrated 'in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view. with parts broken away, of the mechanism of this invention for receiving a. plurality of unarranged objects and for vtransferring and arranging the objects into single lines.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of the mechanism of this invention for delivering a line of cans or other objects all predetermined position or relationship. This problem is one of particular interest in the canning industry where great numbers of cans must be arranged and handled in a minimum of time. The means heretofore ordinarily employed, where such means have not been almost entirely manual, have necessitated the initial handling of the cans in order to place them in an upright position. 'I'his operation in itself requires considerable manual labor with its accompanying limitations as to speed and eiilciency. In the second place, where means have heretofore been provided for arranging the upright cans into some kind of linear formation, such means have entailed the disadvantage of jamming, that is, of causing two or more cans to become wedged between parts of the moving mechanism with probable injury both to the cans and to the mechanism itself. Finally, the mechanism heretofore employed for can handling and the like, has, for the most part, been cumbersome, involved and inemcient.

'Ihese and other disadvantages have been overcome by the means of the present invention which provides, briefly, for a horizontal carrier, such as a belt moving in one direction, and having mounted thereabove, a vertical belt extending diagonally of the horizontal belt and a wheel rotating likewise in the same general direction as the horizontal belt, thespeed ratios of the several moving parts mentioned being such as to eillciently concentrate the cans and deliver them in single line formation without danger of jamming or wedgingr of the cans at any point. In addition, the invention comprises means receiving the single line of cans, which may be either upright or on their sides and for delivering such cans, all inv upright position.

disposed in an upright position, the directly conf nected parts of the mechanism seen in Figs. 1

In greater detail -and with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. the present invention may comprise a4 frame I0 adapted to have mounted thereon a pair of rollers I I and I2 provided with suitable bearings I3 and I4. The rollers II and I2 are adapted to have mounted .thereon a suitable carrler, such as the belt I5 which, as shown herein, is horizontally disposed.

'Ilhe same frame III, likewise carries a similar belt I6 mounted on similar rollers I1 and I8, this belt, or at least the upper reach or section, being preferably disposed in the same plane as the similar section of the belt I5. Overlapping the adjacent ends of the ,belts I5 and I6 is a plate I9, disposed in the same general plane as the belts.

The belt I5 is adapted to be move-d inone direction and for this purpose there may be pro- '4 vided a motor 30 connected by a suitable belt or cable 2| with one of the rollers Il or I2 (roller Il, as here shown) and imparting movement thereto. The movement is transmitted by the belt I5, through the roller l2 and likewise through suitable reduction gearing. indicated at 22, Fig.

2,to theroller I1, associated with the belt Il for causing the belt Il to move in the same direction, but at a lower rate of speed, than the belt I5. The ratio of speed between the two belts may be determined by sp'eclc needs but generally speaking, the belt I5 is preferablymoved at a considerably greater'rate, for example, at a ratio of ten to onethan the belt I4, for purposes which will later be described.

It will be seen in Fig. 2 that the u'pper reach of the belt I5. in the space between its rollers, may have disposed immediately therebeneath, a plurality of small rollers or cylinders 23 for rendering this section of the belt relatively non-Y belt only might be utilized with a somewhat narrowex horizontal belt of the .type of-Il.. However, by the use of a broader belt l5, and a pair of the vertical belts and associated means, the capacity of the can mechanism may be greatly increased.

For positioning and operating the vertical belts, the machine frame Il may have a pair of uprights 24 secured thereto and connected by a beam 25 which may have a platform member 25 secured thereto intermediate its ends. Supported by the platform 26 is a motor 21. The motor, through the medium of suitably housed gearing, indicated at 2l and 3l, drives a pair of downwardly projecting shafts 3| and 32, Fig. 1. The lower ends of these shafts terminate above the belt I5 and have mounted thereon .the rollers or belt pulleys 33 and 34.-

Adjacent the outer end of thel belt I5, the frame Ill is provided with a second pair of uprights 35 having a transverse beam extending y between them and having mounted thereon the bearings 31 and 33 for a pair of downwardly projecting shafts 39 and 4l which, at their lower ends. have mounted thereon the belt wheels 4I and 42. Vertical belts 43 and 44 are associated with the pulleys 34-42 and 32-4I, respectively, and are adapted to be so moved by the motor 21 that the outer reaches or sections of the vertical belts move in the same-general direction as the horizontal belt l5, but, by virtue of the gearing 25--3l, at a greater rate of linear speed than the belt I5. Due to the diagonal dispo- 53 adjacent the upper ends of the shafts 3l and 4l. By this means it will be seen that the motor 2l, which operates the belts 43 and 44, also ro-' tates the said guides or guide wheels 4I and 50. The speed of the guides 4! and 5l is set at a rate less than that of the vertical belts 43 and 44. I'his may be achieved by employing a selected size ratio betweenthe pulleys 5| and 53.

The direction oi movement of the various parts above mentioned may be ascertained by the arrows shown in connection therewith.

Thecwheels or guides 49 and 50 are so p0- sitioned with relation to the adjacent sections of the vertical belts 43 and 44 that they form therewith a pair of guideways adapted to pass cans therethrough, in one-by-one formation only,` as will be further described.

'I'he operation of depositing a plurality of objects or cans on the mechanism just described and having the cans arranged in single dies,

may now be set forth.

The cans are, as indicated at 54 in Fig. 1, de-

posited in unarranged condition, on the slow belt I5, and are carried thereby to the plate I0, commonly knownas a dead plate. Alters number of the cans have become concentrated on the plate il, the cans farthest forward are pushed oi! the plate by the pressure of cans in the rear and are thus removed by the belt I5, which, by virtue of its greater rate of speed, serves to somewhatspace the cans as taken from the plate Il. The cans are carried forward by the belt I5 and contact some portion either of the belts 43 or 44 or of the guide wheels 4l and 53. In any case, the cans are received `singly into the guideway provided by the vertical belts 'and their associated wheels 4l and 5l. The

peculiar relative movements between the guides 43 and 5I and the vertical belts and the fact that the 'can-contacting portions of these members all have motion in the same general direction, preclude all possibility of the cans becoming wedged or jammed between the guide ways mentioned. Moreover, should a can, as seen adjacent the upper right hand side of Fig. l, arrive at the guideway in atilted position, the swifter movement of the belt 43 will at once straighten the can for movement through the guidewayand in alignment therewith.

It may here be noted that the guides 49 and 5I are disposed in opposed relation with yieldable portions of the vertical belts 44 and 43,

respectively, to preclude binding or wedging of cans between these parts which would be possition of the vertical 4belts, however, the component of speed of these belts in the direction of movement of the belt I5, is rendered substantially the same as the speed of belt l5. This is a preferable speed relation. y

` The frame I0, at opposite points adjacent .its right-hand end, as seen in Fig. 2, is provided with lower and` upper bearings 45 and 4l, respectively, for mounting a pair of vertical shafts 41-43. Intermediate the ends of these shafts, the latter carry guides or guide wheels'll and 5l. The upper ends of the shafts 41 and 4l are provided with -pulleys 5| which are connected, by suitable belting 52, with cooperating pulleys sible if the cans were passed through relatively unyielding guideways. This relationship, together with the ydifferential speed ratio between the several partsA acting upon the cans, results in the passage of the cans through the guideway inone by one formation only.

It is desirable for elliciently terminating the can handling operations heretofore described, to place all the cans in upright position so that they may be immediately transferred to storage, boxes or packages, or similar operations wherein it is essential thatthe cans be positioned in a uniform relationship.4

For this purpose the present invention provides a mechanism for receiving the line of cans Vas transmitted by the structure heretofore described and for disposing on end, such of the cans as arrive in a horizontal position, that is, lying on their sides 'I'his additional mechanism may comprise, as seen particularly'in Figs. 3 and 4, pairs of spaced rails 55 and 55, one pair disposed on each side of the belt I5 and projecting forwardly thereof. As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the inner ends of the rails 55 and 56 are disposed at the outlet of the cans from the guideways formed by the vertical belts 43 and 44 and their cooperating wheels 50 and 49. The said rails may be continued for a distance to form a horizontal runway, the-outer end portions of which, as indicatedclearly in Fig. 3 at 51, proceed downwardly at substantially a right angle. The lower edges of the rails 55 and 56 may be provided, as seen in Fig. 1, with inwardly projecting flanges 58 and between these, at the base of the runway so formed, is a. moving cable 59 running upon suitable pulleys 60, Fig. 4. The cable 59, as seen especially in Fig. 3, may be conveniently operated from the roller II upon which the belt I5 runs. For this purpose, the

ends of the roller II may be grooved for receiving the cable 59. The cable 59 may be carried over additional pulleys 6I and 62, the former being associated with the downwardly curved portion 51- of the rails 55 and 56. After being carried in reverse over the pulley 62 the cable 59 may proceed forwardly over a. smaller wheel 63 and then, in its lower reach, rearwardly over the wheel 64, whence the cable is carried to the roller II.

The cans are directed off the belt I5 onto the runway just described and are carried therein by the cable 59 to the downwardly projecting portion 51 which, in effect, forms a chute. In order to hold the cans properly in this chute portion, a shield or elongated curved plate 65, Figs. 3 and 4 is provided. Adjacent the upper endofplate--65 Aa. transverse bar 66, extending across the runway, provides a. bumper which, as indicated in Fig. 3, is adapted to be contacted by the upright cans of the advancing line whereby.

such cans are disposed in horizontal position for reception into the chute or closed portions .of the runway. Dotted lines in Fig. 3 indicate the progress of cans through the runway. v

It will further be seen that the cans are adapted to drop, at the bottom of the runway, onto the cable 59, the upper reach of which cable is moving in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 3. In order to prevent the upright cans at the bottom of the chute from being overturn-ed by the cable 59, the present invention provides for a spring stop 61, Fig. 3 which may be hingedly connected, as at 68, to the lower end of the plate 65, where the spring stop projects resiliently into the can runway, so as to be contacted by each can as the latter descends to the cable 59. The spring stop is pressed outwardly by the can until the latter has reached the bottom of the chute, at which time the spring stop snaps inwardly contacting the edge portion of the top of the can to prevent the latter from tilting backwardly due to sudden actuation by the ca ble at the bottom. From this point the cans proceed outwardly and are removed, at a point adjacent the pulley 53, to the desired receptacle or location. It will be notedthat the can runway is continued, as indicated at 69, Fig. 3, outwardly from the bottom of the chute to any desired point. l

Reverting to Fig. 2: A plate or guard 10 may be supported upon the frame I above the belt I being of substantially the same widthas the belt I5 and extending from the dead plate I 9 forwardly to the right end of the mechanism, over the cooperating moving elements operating upon the cans. The guard 'I0 is made vertically adjustable by suitable means (not shown) and is positioned, during use, a slight distance above the tops of the upright cans, being adapted to preclude such cans from being Vknocked down by movement of the belt I5 or the other moving belts. The guard or plate 'I0 is omitted in Fig. 1 for the sake. of clarity. It will be noted that lateral guard rails 'Il and 12 (Figs. 1 and 2) may be provided along each side of the horizontal belts I5 and I6 and the dead plate I9, the guard rails being supported by suitable uprights 13.

A further refinement may be noted: The motor driving the vertical belts 43 and 44 may have associated therewith a time delay relay (not shown) by virtue of which the motor. 2'I for the vertical belts operates for a brief period longer than the main motor 20 since, due to the weight of the 4belt I5 and its associated rollers and parts, the large belt continues to move for a brief interval by inertia after the motor 20 has been shut oi. It is this after-interval which the time delay relay associated with the smaller motor 21 lis intended to compensate for. If such means were not provided, the extra movement of the belt I5 would result in the accumulation vof cans in the guideway portions associated therewith.

What is claimed is:

-1. Apparatus for transferring and arranging a plurality of articles, said apparatus comprisy ing a. carrier moving in one direction and adapted to have the articles deposited unarranged thereon, a belt mounted adjacent the carrier for movement in the same general direction as the carrier and positioned substantially upright relative thereto, and a guide wheel mounted adjacent the carrier in opposed relation with said beltl and having its periphery adjacent said belt rotating in the same general direction as and at a slower peripheral speed than said belt, said belt and wheel forming a :guideway providing for passage therethrough, in one-byI-one formation only, of articles carried by the carrier.4

2. Apparatus for transferring and arranging a plurality of articles, said apparatus comprising a horizontal moving belt adapted to have the articles deposited unarranged thereon, a vertical belt mounted above the horizontal belt and moving inA the same general direction as the horizontal belt, and a guide wheel mounted above the horizontal belt and rotating on an upright axis and at a peripheral speed slower than that of the vertical belt, said wheel forming with said vertical belt a guideway transmitting the cans in single line formation.

3. Apparatus for transferring and arranging a plurality of articles, said apparatus comprising a slow-moving belt adapted to have the articles dumped thereon, a fast belt'associated with the slow belt for receiving the articles therefrom and for advancing and spacing the articles, a vertical belt mounted above said fast belt and moving in the sansv general direction as the fast belt, and a rotary guide mounted above the fast beltfor rotation at a slower peripheral speed than the vertical belt, the rotaiy guide in that portion thereof adjacent the vertical belt moving in the same general direction as said belt, the rotary guide and vertical belt forming between them a guideway receiving and transmitting the cans in single line formation.

FREDERICK C. MARX. 

